The exhaustion displayed on the mechanic’s face when I said, “I did an Internet search,” led me to add quickly, “But I know I’m not a mechanic.” Relief showed on his face when he realized I may come armed with questions, but I would still let him do his job.
I understand the power of the web. All the knowledge at my fingertips still doesn’t mean I’m qualified to work on an engine or perform surgery. No patient wants to hear me say, “Don’t worry. I watched a surgical YouTube video.” I know enough to be dangerous and readily admit that my armchair degree is from WebMD.
My latest trip into pretending to be an expert happened while researching a new heating system. I can now convert BTUs (British Thermal Units) to KWH (kilowatt hours) to determine the possible cost of using a specific heater. Yes. There are online calculators. Armed with the square footage of the building and the tightness of my wallet, no one should ever allow me to install a furnace. Having me involved shouldn’t be part of anyone’s safety protocol.
I still encourage people to ask any professional plenty of questions. Using the web to our advantage doesn’t mean replacing people with experience and education. It means we advocate for our health, safety and spending. We can teach our children to ask questions and still be respectful. Sometimes, a new idea is discovered and can help someone else. Just keep in mind, not everything shown online is authentic.
So, to resolve my car issues and low tire warnings, a simple search led me to discover that the air in a tire may condense due to a change in weather, causing the low air indicator to go off. (Does everyone already know this information?)
Then again, it can also be a nail. Fine. It was a nail. But learning about the air pressure was interesting.
